Parents group angry at title of CBS series

[May 21, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- A parents group is threatening CBS affiliates with challenges to their broadcast licenses if they air the network's new comedy with a title that alludes to an obscenity.

The Parents Television Council, which monitors decency issues, criticized CBS for picking up a comedy series called "(Bleep) My Dad Says" that is based on a popular Twitter feed. Instead of the word, the CBS title uses a series of symbols.

The group says it will challenge the broadcast license of any CBS affiliate that airs the series or promotions for it before 10 p.m. CBS has scheduled the comedy for Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. It stars William Shatner as the father whose politically incorrect musings are put out on Twitter by his son.

Tim Winter, president of the Los Angeles-based organization, said he was aware that CBS was developing a series based on the Twitter sensation, but "we couldn't imagine that a network would actually name a program either with an expletive or with the expletive ostensibly bleeped out.

"We're talking here not about a Twitter feed, we're talking about broadcast television that requires a license to use the airwaves," he said.

He said he was concerned about parents confronted by promotions for the series when they are watching television with their children.

CBS pointed out that the Twitter feed, which uses the obscenity, has more than 1.5 million followers and has spawned a book.

"It will in no way be indecent and will adhere to all CBS standards," spokesman Phil Gonzales said. "Parents who choose to do so will find the show can easily be blocked using their V Chip."

Winter said his group's members will be monitoring how the show is promoted on local stations.

[Associated Press; By DAVID BAUDER]

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